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South Dakota State University Athletics
Jacks host No. 2 UNI
10/12/2011 2:59:00 PM | Football
The South Dakota State University football team begins a two-game homestand against highly ranked Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents Saturday night, hosting second-ranked Northern Iowa in the annual Hall of Fame Game.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
The Jackrabbits ended a four-game losing streak last week with a 35-28 road victory at Youngstown State. SDSU enters Saturday's game 2-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Northern Iowa, meanwhile, is on a four-game winning streak and sits atop the MVFC standings with a 3-0 league mark, 4-1 overall. The Panthers notched a 23-9 home victory over nationally ranked Indiana State in their last outing.
Saturday's game also is Military Appreciation Night. All veterans and current service members with a valid military I.D., copy of their DD Form 214 or with a DAV, VA, VFW or American Legion membership card can pick up their two free tickets on the day of the game at Gate 6 of Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. Immediate family members of military personnel currently serving away from home will be allowed to sign in for more than two tickets. The stadium will open at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
The Jackrabbits ended a four-game losing streak last week with a 35-28 road victory at Youngstown State. SDSU enters Saturday's game 2-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Northern Iowa, meanwhile, is on a four-game winning streak and sits atop the MVFC standings with a 3-0 league mark, 4-1 overall. The Panthers notched a 23-9 home victory over nationally ranked Indiana State in their last outing.
Saturday's game also is Military Appreciation Night. All veterans and current service members with a valid military I.D., copy of their DD Form 214 or with a DAV, VA, VFW or American Legion membership card can pick up their two free tickets on the day of the game at Gate 6 of Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. Immediate family members of military personnel currently serving away from home will be allowed to sign in for more than two tickets. The stadium will open at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
ONLINE COVERAGE: Saturday's game has been included in the Missouri Valley Football Conference media package; therefore, video coverage of Saturday's game will be available exclusively on ESPN3.com. Check with local Internet provider for availability.
Audio coverage of Saturday's game is scheduled to be available via the Jackrabbit Extra subscription service at GoJacks.com, the official website of SDSU athletics. Monthly subscriptions for the Jackrabbit Extra, which includes live audio and video streaming of select contests are available for $11.95 per month or $99.95 for an entire year of coverage.
Local radio coverage Saturday begins on Jackrabbit Sports Network flagship station WNAX 570 AM at 4:30 p.m. Central Time, with an expanded pre-game show. Tyler Merriam will call the play-by-play, with former Jackrabbit player Mike Struck providing color commentary and Scotty Kwas providing sideline updates.
Coverage across the Jackrabbit Sports Network begins at 5:30 p.m. Central Time Network affiliates include:
* KJJQ 910 AM-Brookings
* KRKI 99.1 FM-Rapid City
* KGFX 1060 AM-Pierre
* KOLY 1300 AM-Mobridge
* KBFS 1450 AM-Belle Fourche
* KSDR 1480 AM-Watertown
THE SERIES: Saturday's matchup will mark the 46th meeting between SDSU and UNI on the gridiron. The two squads met regularly from the time the series started in 1935 until UNI (formerly Iowa Teachers College) left the North Central Conference in the late 1970s to join the Division I ranks.
UNI holds a 26-17-2 advantage in the series, including a 24-14 victory at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, during the 2010 season.
In their last meeting at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, on Oct. 24, 2009, Jackrabbits claimed a 24-14 victory of their own, en route to their first-ever berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
The Panthers had won the first three meetings since the rivalry resumed in 2006, including a 31-17 victory early in the 2007 campaign.
CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team on the field and in the locker room are four senior captains:
* Kyle Harris, kicker, Florissant, Mo.;
* Dirk Kool, linebacker, Fairfield, Iowa;
* Mike Lien, linebacker, Castaic, Calif.;
* Jake Steffen, defensive end, Mount Vernon, S.D.
Kool holds the distinction of being the third generation of his family to serve as a captain for the Jackrabbit football team. His late grandfather, Marv, was a team captain in 1951, while his father, Mark, served as a captain on the Jackrabbits' NCAA Division II playoff squad in 1979. Mark Kool later served as an assistant coach at SDSU from 1987-90.
Harris, meanwhile, suffered a season-ending injury in the Oct. 1 game versus Indiana State. He made 3-of-4 field goal attempts - with a long of 33 yards - and connected on 5-of-7 extra-point tries for a team-best 14 points prior to his injury.
ROLLIN, SUMNER HONORED: South Dakota State wide receiver Aaron Rollin and quarterback Austin Sumner were honored by the Missouri Valley Football Conference for their performances in the Jackrabbits' 35-28 victory over Youngstown State on Oct. 8.
A junior from Lee's Summit, Mo., Rollin was named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week after catching eight passes for a career-high 155 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Rollin caught a 5-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28-28, then scored the winning touchdown on a 73-yard pass play with 5:55 remaining in the game. For Rollin, it was his second 100-yard game of the season and third of his career. Rollin has recorded eight or more receptions three times this season, including each of the past two games.
Sumner, a redshirt freshman from Brandon, earned MVFC Newcomer of the Week accolades after 22-of-35 passes and setting career highs with 345 yards and four touchdowns. His final touchdown of the day was a 73-yarder to Rollin with 5:55 remaining in the game. Sumner led the Jackrabbits on scoring drives of 60, 70, 93, 88 and 73 yards - all of which resulted in touchdowns - on the afternoon.
SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA: A star-studded cast has the University of Northern Iowa in position to repeat as Missouri Valley Football Conference champion and to make a return trip to the Football Championships Subdivision playoffs.
The Panthers enter tonight's game atop the MVFC with 3-0 mark in league play and a
4-1 overall mark. The only blemish on the UNI résumé so far this season was a one-point, 20-19 setback at the hands of in-state rival Iowa State in the season opener.
Leading the offensive charge in Walter Payton Award candidate Tirrell Rennie. A dual threat at quarterback, Rennie has gained nearly 500 yards on the ground and tallied 825 through the air. He has accounted for 10 touchdowns - five running and five passing - while completing 56.4 percent (57-of-101) of his passes.
Also on the ground, redshirt freshman David Johnson has racked up 461 yards with a team-high six touchdowns. Johnson recently was named to the official watch list for the
inaugural Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Johnson and Rennie have had the luxury of running behind a starting offensive line that averages nearly 305 pounds. Senior left tackle Jay Teply was a preseason all-MVFC selection, while center Brian Palangi received honorable mention recognition.
In their passing game, the Panthers have demonstrated big-play ability as three of their top of four receivers are averaging more than 18 yards per catch. Terrell Sinkfield leads the receiving corps with 11 catches for 212 yards - an average of 19.3 yards per reception. Jarred Herring has added an average of 18.4 yards per reception, while Johnson has posted an average of 20.5 yards per catch with a team-high two touchdowns.
Herring also is a threat in the return game, turning in an average of 20.6 yards per kickoff return.
A stingy Panther defense has allowed only three touchdowns in conference play and has given up an average of only 13.8 points through five games. UNI has given up only six points in the third quarters of games so far this season.
UNI features two players on the official watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS ranks: defensive tackle Ben Boothby and linebacker L.J. Fort.
Boothby leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks among his 30 total tackles. Fort has posted a league-best average of 12.6 tackles per game, tallying 63 in five games. He has notched five tackles for loss, forced five fumbles and recovered one.
Fellow inside linebacker Jordan Smith ranks second on the team with 52 tackles, with starting outside linebacker James Conley third on the squad with 37 tackles. Smith also leads the team with three interceptions.
In the secondary, starting strong safety Garrett Scott has notched 36 tackles, intercepted a pair of passes and broken up six more passes. Free safety Tre'Darrius Canady also has recorded two of the Panthers' 10 interceptions on the season.
Preseason all-MVFC pick J.J. Swain returns at one cornerback spot, with Varmah Sonie holding down the opposite side. Each player has one interception in 2011.
UNI also has been solid in the kicking game with sophomore placekicker Tyler Sievertsen and junior punter Kyle Bernard. The reigning MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Sievertsen has made 8-of-9 field goal attempts and all 18 extra-point tries for 42 points. Sievertsen's long field goal of the season is 48 yards.
Bernard is averaging 39.2 yards per punt, with a long of 54.
CAS TURNS 50: The 2011 campaign marks the 50th season of football at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. Overall, SDSU has compiled a 163-100 record (.620 winning percentage) on its home field.
The Jackrabbits have enjoyed even more of a home-field advantage at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium since making the move to the Football Championship Subdivision level.
Since joining the FCS ranks at the start of the 2004 season, the Jackrabbits have posted a 29-9 mark at CAS, including a 10-3 record in Missouri Valley Football Conference games.
Lights were installed at CAS prior to the 2001 season and SDSU has turned in a 22-7 record in home night games.
A celebration of the history of Coughlin-Alumni Stadium will be observed Oct. 22, when SDSU hosts North Dakota State in the annual Dakota Marker game. Festivities that day will include halftime recognition of the 50-player Coughlin-Alumni Stadium All-Time Team.
SLOW STARTS: The Jackrabbits have had a history of starting season slow, but
finishing strong during the Division I era.
2006: 0-3 start; finished season 7-4
2007: 0-3 start; finished season 7-4 (won Great West Football Conference title)
2010: 0-4 start; finished season 5-6
SUMNER STARTING: Redshirt freshman Austin Sumner has become the first Jackrabbit quarterback since Ryan Berry in 2008 to throw for 300-plus yards in consecutive games.
A Brandon native, Sumner completed 26-of-48 passes for 305 yards in his first home start, Oct. 1 versus Indiana State. He followed that by earning MVFC Newcomer of the Week honors after completing 22-of-35 passes, setting career highs with 345 yards and four touchdowns in the win at Youngstown State.
Sumner took over the starting quarterback duties in the Sept. 24 game at Illinois State, following the departure of Thomas O'Brien.
DUAL THREAT: South Dakota State's Tyrel Kool made the most of his first career start at running back, racking up 107 yards on the ground and another 79 through the air in the Jackrabbits' season opener against Southern Utah on Sept. 3.
A junior from Yankton, Kool began his collegiate career as a running back, but switched to wide receiver during the 2010 season, when he led the team with 64 receptions for 808 yards. His receptions total was fifth-most in a season by a Jackrabbit player, while his receiving yards mark stands 10th in a single season.
Kool's rushing total against Southern Utah marked the 10th time in 11 games a Jackrabbit running back eclipsed the century mark. Kyle Minett ran for 100 yards in eight straight games and Tyler Duffy added a 100-yard outing to close out the 2010 season.
IMPRESSIVE START: Backup running back Zach Zenner has put together a series of impressive all-around performances to start the 2011 season.
A redshirt freshman from Eagan, Minn., Zenner compiled 139 all-purpose yards in the Jackrabbit victory Sept. 3 against Southern Utah. He returned four kickoffs for 74 yards, caught three passes for 24 yards and carried the ball five times for 41 yards. He scored the first touchdown of his career, scampering 27 yards around left end on the final play of the third quarter.
Zenner currently ranks third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with an average of 130.5 all-purpose yards per game.
MOSS CATCHING ON: South Dakota State wide receiver Dale Moss has become a primary target in the Jackrabbit passing game in recent weeks.
After going without a catch the first two weeks, Moss has hauled in 28 receptions for 355 yards over the last three games. The Brandon native recorded eight catches for 106 yards, including a career-long 37-yarder, in the Sept. 17 matchup at Cal Poly to earn Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week honors, followed by a nine-reception, 98-yard outing Sept. 24 at Illinois State. Last week, Moss gathered in five receptions for 69 yards and scored his first career touchdown in a Jackrabbit win at Youngstown State.
Moss, who averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds from his guard position during his senior season on the basketball court, possesses tremendous leaping ability as he led the team in blocked shots two seasons and paced the Jackrabbits in offensive rebounds as a senior.
During his senior season at Brandon Valley High School, Moss was an all-state selection after tallying 45 receptions for 573 yards and eight touchdowns.
100-YARD TANDEM: South Dakota State wide receivers Aaron Rollin and Dale Moss became the first Jackrabbit receiving duo to record 100 receiving yards in the same game since 2008, when they combined for 17 catches and 215 yards against Cal Poly. Rollin set a career high with nine catches for 109 yards, with Moss adding career highs of eight receptions and 106 yards.
The last 100-yard receiving tandem for the Jackrabbits were JaRon Harris (9-120) and Glen Fox (6-102) in a losing effort at Northern Iowa on Sept. 20, 2008.
THE WRIGHT BROTHERS: The Jackrabbit football team has received valuable contributions from brothers Winston and Dom Wright during the 2011 season.
Natives of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Blue Springs South High School, both joined the SDSU football program in the fall of 2010. A sophomore, Winston Wright has started all six games this season at cornerback and shares the team lead with two interceptions to go along with 29 tackles. He began his colllegiate career at Missouri, redshirting during the 2009 season.
Dom Wright is a redshirt freshman wide receiver who has seen most of his action as a kick returner. In five games, he has averaged 15.6 yards on 10 kickoff returns to rank second on the squad.
COACH STIG: John Stiegelmeier has built the South Dakota State University football team into a consistent winner and a program on the rise in the ranks of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Overall, Coach Stig has led the Jackrabbits to a 90-70 record (.563 winning percentage). SDSU has posted eight winning seasons in the last nine years, including six of the school's first seven campaigns at the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) level. The Jackrabbits have had a winning record in 11 of Stiegelmeier's 14 full years as head coach, including six with seven or more victories.
HOME-GROWN TALENT: SDSU has effectively used the services of home-grown talent the past few seasons.
In 2011, three Jackrabbit players hail from Brookings: junior wide receiver Dan Schmidt, sophomore offensive lineman Alex Parker and sophomore running back Mason Winterboer. In all, 28 players on the roster hail from the state of South Dakota.
IVERSON A CAMPBELL SEMIFINALIST: South Dakota State University tight end Brad Iverson has been selected as a candidate for the 2011 National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Awards, and as such, is one of 127 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, be a significant contributor on his team, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
A Sioux Falls native and two-year letterwinner, Iverson is one of six semifinalists who has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, while majoring in biochemistry. Active in numerous campus and community activities and organizations, Iverson plans to enroll in medical school following graduation.
The NFF Awards Committee will select up to 16 recipients, who will be announced on Oct. 26. Each recipient will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and they will vie as finalists for the 2011 William V. Campbell Trophy. Each member of the 2011 National Scholar-Athlete Class will also travel to New York City and be honored Dec. 6 during the 54th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria.
JACKRABBIT INSIDER: Throughout the 2011 football season, head coach John Stiegelmeier will be a guest on the “Jackrabbit Insider,” a weekly behind-the-scenes look at South Dakota State University athletics.
The half-hour television show which features interviews with Jackrabbit coaches and student-athletes, airs Sundays at 10:30 p.m. on Sioux Falls-based KTTW FOX 7. The show is also broadcast on FOX Sports North at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and on FOX College Sports Central at 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Online, the show can be viewed at GoJacks.com.
A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits close out their homestand with an Oct. 22 matchup against North Dakota State. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m., with the game televised on Midco Sports Network. The Coughlin-Stadium All-Time Team will be honored at halftime of the game.
To read this week's entire preview, access the document at the top of the page.
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